Gearing Tribology

摘要

The paper presents a brief review of developments in understanding of gear tooth contact lubrication in relation to problems of surface durability and distress. Gear tooth contacts tend to operate under conditions where the lubricating oil film is thin compared to surface roughness. This feature is shown to have a significant effect on scuffing capacity, friction and micropitting. Recent developments in thin film micro elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) theory are described and these should lead to a better understanding of the behaviour and modes of surface distress in gears.